Lotek Gauge Pod= Disapointed

[Supramann93]

Just got my lotek A pillar gauge pod and I am disapointed in quality of materials and the fitment. I was hoping to attach some other gauge pods to the OEM piece without the grabhandle. Has anyone had a similiar experience and found something that works. Pics help. Thanks.

[Interex]

I've got a single pillar pod from Autometer:

http://haroldmiller.net/tacoma/albums/11-17-06/DSC00397.jpg

How many gauges did you want to mount on your pillar?

[Supramann93]

2 at the very least, if 3 would fit and look clean I would do it. I dont think it would look clean with 3 though. I want it to look as OEM as Possible so the lotek may be the only way to go.

[EnolaGaia]

As I mentioned in this other thread:

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27130

... Pre-'01 Taco owners have reported success in using a (slightly tweaked) Acura Integra A-pillar pod. If I recall correctly the contours of the pre-'01 and '01 - '04 A-pillars are different. I can't find an example of the Integra pod trick for an '01 - '04 Taco, so I don't know if that might be a reasonable option to consider....

[cheez]

Just got my lotek A pillar gauge pod and I am disapointed in quality of materials and the fitment. I was hoping to attach some other gauge pods to the OEM piece without the grabhandle. Has anyone had a similiar experience and found something that works. Pics help. Thanks.

I'm not too happy with mine either. The fitment kinda sucks, the gauge angle could be better, and it would be nice to have three holes.

[DCabTaco]

give me an e-mail to send a picture of my 3 pods. I don't think they look that bad at all. People normally don't look close enough to see I added the single pod on top of the double pod A pillar.

[upwithit]

i like my pod i got from them. it did have a small hair line crack in one of the gauge holes. the hole they drilled for mounting were not even close to my handle mounting holes. but with just a little effort it all worked out. now if i could just get this #@!#@!!@$#@@#$%$#@$$## tach worked out i would be ok.

[waskillywabbit]

I have a 3 pod Lotek and the fitment is just fine and the angle of the gauges good. I am more than pleased. Drilling new holes is not a big deal as I had to drill all of mine.

http://www.wabfab.org/project/dual/db7.jpg

This is an 85 4Runner, but it fit several years/models IIRC.

:welder:

[DCabTaco]

what years is this for? I remember they didn't have a 3 pod a-pillar replacement when I ordered mine.

edit:

I see it is for a pre taco, yeah the sell the 3 pod pillars for those but not tacomas. See the link below to get an idea of what I did.

[DCabTaco]

This is a picture of someone in CT that had the double pod and put a single on the top of that. This is what I did only mine is color matched light gray.

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/showpost.php?p=425435&postcount=4

[EnolaGaia]

This is a picture of someone in CT that had the double pod and put a single on the top of that. ...

That CT pic illustrates one of the common gripes about the LoTek pod for '01 - '04 Tacomas. If you look closely, you can see that the lower 2 gauges (in the LoTek enclosures) point more directly at the camera than the upper / third one (the add-on pod), which angles slightly to the right (i.e., toward the driver's position).

Unless you're of a particular height or always lean against the door, the LoTek pod aims the gauges too 'high and left'. Ever since it was introduced, there've been complaints about it aiming the gauges over your left shoulder.

[DCabTaco]

yeah that is true, but for analog type of gauges with needles it doesn't really matter too much, at least not to me. I can see the gauges enough to tell when there is something wrong. I have the exact same gauges on my triple set up, only my AFRs gauge is the innovate black standalone and the other 2 auto meters are the black Z-series style.

But I will agree they could point more in the direction of the driver.

[Supramann93]

Does anyone know are the gauge pods from Summit that fit the integra are they as cheasy as the Lotek gauge pods. If so, F that. I dont care about drilling new holes I knew I'd have to do that, but the materials used for the pod is CRAP. IMO

[EnolaGaia]

Does anyone know are the gauge pods from Summit that fit the integra are they as cheasy as the Lotek gauge pods. ...

You could probably get the best info the fastest by posting a question on an Acura forum. Regardless of what you may think of 'ricer culture', the ricer forums are surprisingly good sources of information on those features and accessories that crowd obsesses about (interior accessories, gauges, etc.)...

[Sleepy]

Go to my web page and check how I did mine. I am pleased how they came out.

http://community.webshots.com/user/98Tacoma

[NorcalPR]

I have to dual pod on my truck. The paint matches the interior very well. I am very pleased with the lotek.

And you expect the stock location boles to be used? The screws procided are much smaller than the stock location holes. Just drill it and you're done.

-Phill

[Supramann93]

I know you must drill new holes, that was never a question, it does not fit flush though, there is a white plastic piece at the top that may be causing the lotek piece not to fit flush. I have an 04. I hope when it is installed that the top fits like the stock piece.

[Supramann93]

The color match is not a problem, it is just cheaply made, and the fitment is not percection like others have posted. F ing frustrated. It does not fit flush at the top.

[DCabTaco]

there is a white plastic piece at the top that may be causing the lotek piece not to fit flush. I have an 04.

do you have a picture of this? I have an 04 and mine fit just like the link I posted from CT.

[Sleepy]

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e246/sleepys1998tacoma/Pod%20Install/Theonlywaytoknow.jpg

This is the top of my pod. It fit flat and there has not been any problem with matteral or workmanship. If there had been I would have taken it back to LoTek. They are located here in Durham.

[Supramann93]

mine is not even close, to this, I could live with the material used in the lotek piece if it fit like that. I haven't finished the install as of yet, Waiting till Monday when the SC gets installed.

[SAR_Squid79]

I am overall satisfied with my Lotek Pod. The gauge angle is fine with me. The fitment was good. The color match was off, but I went to Home Depot, bought a rattle can, and corrected the color myself.

The only place that the fit is not as tight as I would like is on the windshield side of the pod. If you stand outside the truck, looking in through the windshield, there is about a 1/4" gap and you can see the red wires that go to my gauges. I'm sure that I am the only person that would notice this small imperfection on my truck. The casual observer/admirer would probably not ever notice it.

Like I said - for the most part, for the price I paid - I'm satisfied with my Lotek 2-Gauge Pod.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/37/gauges4rv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[NorcalPR]

How you complain about the material? What's wrong with the material? Not metal?

Have you even tried contacting Lotek before complaining about it? Have you sent pictures to them? I would imagine that if you sent them some pictures and asked kindly enough, they would probably help you out.

-Phill

[AngryAndy]

I have a Lotek 2 gauge pillar pod in my 97 Tacoma. Fits fine, IMO.

I also have a different vendor 3 gauge pod in my 1st gen 4runner (looks exacly like Waskillywabbit's pics), and it fits Ok. Nice and tight fit on top, but its about 3/4" short on the dash side of the pilllar....You gotta look closely to notice it, but it's there.

BOTH pillars required minimal dremel'ing for the gauges to fit, but it did not take long to get them installed.

Both needed color matching, they both came delivered in black. A couple coats of grey paint and they look allright to ME...

Phill: The material was not metal, but some kind of hard plasic. Paint took to it very well.

Supramann93: What year truck do you have? You might wanna clue us in on that....

[NorcalPR]

Andy, I know it's plastic, I have one on my truck, lol. But he was complaining about the material.

I could live with the material used in the lotek piece if it fit like that

I bought mine with the grey, and it's a very tiny bit too light, it took me a long time to figure that out. I'd definately buy one again.

-Phill

[Supramann93]

Its an 04, and I thought the material quality would be closer to Toyota OEM style, instead, it is cheap. METAL?!!! What makes you think I was hoping it was metal? That is the crazy, I've never even heard of metal A pillar gauge pods. Autometers plastic seems a tad bit more sturdy and better, I am questioning the fitment of the ACURA INTEGRA gauge pod over the A pillar. again I'm not asking if I need to drill new holes I UNDERSTAND I NEED TO DRILL NEW HOLEs (not an issue)

[ZR2Steve]

Just got my lotek A pillar gauge pod and I am disapointed in quality of materials and the fitment.

I installed the A-pillar gauge pod in my 01 and it looks like a factory install. I could not have been more happy with its fit, finish and color.

I wonder if somehow Lotek shipped the wrong pillar pod?

[Supramann93]

I installed it, I didn't fit perfectly flush so I will probably use the Acura Integra autometer triple gauge over the 01 A pillar piece I just traded Outback. Thanks for the tips.

[NorcalPR]

Have you contacted lotek?

[Supramann93]

No...I think I'll go the triple Integra Autometer gauge pod route. The AM gauge pod uses a bit thicker plastic and feels more sturdy and it holds 3 which is optimal for me.